Where the Heart Is Page #4

KIDS:
Hi.

- How do you feel?

- Ha! Mumps?

I got his mumps right here.

Go find us a good-Iooking Christmas

tree that doesn't cost more than $40.

Have you heard from him?

You mean since he stole my brand-new

pillows and left town on his Harley?

I guess that's what I meant.

You want us to wait

and give you a ride?

No. You never know, maybe I can get

knocked up again on the way home.

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

Why would a man on a Harley

steal a woman's pillows?

Because he could, I guess.

You know...

...I cannot wait till Americus

sees this tree.

Don't expect too much of a reaction.

After all, Americus is only...

- Hey, you know what?

- What?

Americus is exactly

five months old today.

- What?

- Yeah, she was born July fifth.

SISTER:
Novalee!

NOVALEE:
What happened?

I turned around and she's gone.

- What happened?

- She's gone! Americus is gone.

The front door was unlocked?

I went to the shed for decorations.

I was two minutes.

Is anything else missing? Money?

Is there anyone who might've

taken your daughter?

Anyone who is mad at you?

There's a woman at work.

She says I park in her space, even

though we don't have regular spaces.

But she wouldn't take Americus.

What about you, Sister?

Anyone have a grudge against you?

- Like who?

- Someone at the AA?

Anyone there might want to hurt you?

We're alcoholics. We're generally

satisfied just to hurt ourselves.

Well...

Anyone could have her, and I don't

know if she's scared or sick.

I don't know if she's hungry.

I know, honey. I know.

- I don't know...

- Excuse me. Excuse me.

- Is this always in the baby's crib?

- That's not my Bible.

Oh, Lord. Lord, I know who took her.

I know who took Americus.

- What?

- Yesterday, this woman came to the door.

She was here once before.

She and a man, they said that they

wanted to give you the word of God.

I smart-mouthed them.

And they had Bibles with them.

Like that one.

They came from Mississippi.

Midnight, Mississippi.

They said my baby was an abomination.

Am I being punished, Forney?

For what?

Things I did.

I wasn't married when I had my baby.

Do you really think this

is what you deserve?

Let me tell you about

what you deserve, Novalee.

If it were up to me...

(SIRENS WAILING)

(ENGINE STARTS)

We got a possible crime scene...

- My God!

- You can't...

FORNEY:
Let her go!

COP:
No. Hey, hey!

(AMERICUS GURGLES)

(CRIES)

The highway patrol spotted

Mississippi plates and stopped them.

They admitted they took her,

said we'd find her here.

Jesus Christ, another guitar player.

What's your name?

Willy Jack Pickens.

You didn't even have to make that up,

did you?

- What?

- You carry that to keep your balance?

You want me to play?

What the f*** do you think

I want you to do, call bingo?

One tune. Your best shot.

All right. Well, I wrote

this one myself.

- I have goose bumps already.

- Jesus Christ.

(WILLY PLAYS)

Sometimes it's hard

You don 't want to...

...look over your shoulder

'Cause you don 't want to

Remember where you've been

There'll come a time you'd die

If you could only hold her

I know that's where I am

So listen with all your heart

Hold it inside forever

You may find all your dreams

Have already come true

Look inside and find the part

That's leading you

That's the beat of the heart

What do you think?

It's gonna cost me $ 1000

to clean you up.

Pictures, another 200.

My name is Ruth Meyers.

Call me Ruth Meyers.

All right. All right.

RUTH:
Look, Penny. Could you just

please sign it? Thanks.

- I changed your name.

- You did?

You're Billy Shadow now.

One Willy in the business is enough.

Billy Shadow. I like it.

Here.

That spending money?

(WILLY PLAYS)

So listen with all your heart

Hold it inside forever

(GLASS BREAKS)

You may find all your dreams

Have already come true

Whoa!

RUTH:
I told you it would take

two years to get you on the radio.

It's been two years!

- Then you know what?

- What?

It's gonna take three years.

(PHONE CLICKS)

("BEAT OF THE HEART" PLAYS)

You may find all your dreams

Have already come true

Look inside and find the part

That's leading you

WILLY SINGS ON RADIO:

That's the beat of the heart

(SISTER HUMS)

No one can tell you...

...how to get there

It's a road you take all by yourself

Americus, sing with me.

All by yourself

- Oh, that song!

- So listen with all your heart

(TURNS OFF RADIO)

It's catchy.

I don't know. Something about that

guy's voice rubs me the wrong way.

Americus, honey, what are you doing?

- Eating dough with my nose.

- Don't.

Forney's outside waiting.

(GIGGLES)

- How do I look?

- Great.

How do I look? You nervous?

Uh-huh.

FORNEY:

Are you ready to go?

- Forney!

- Oh!

Pony ride!

Well, if it doesn't rain.

It can't rain.

I'm shooting an outdoor wedding.

Do I look professional?

- You know what would help?

- What?

Bringing your camera.

Sh*t!

- Mama didn't say "sh*t."

- Yes, she did.

Here you go.

You take some beautiful pictures of

that wedding. You look great!

- Drive careful.

- Bye, baby.

- Bye.

- Bye.

Say bye to Mama.

- Bye.

- Bye.

AMERICUS:
Bye. Bye, Mama.

SISTER:
Good luck.

FORNEY:
Bye.

- Bye.

(WIND BLOWS)

Mommy, Mommy, storm's coming!

Weather channel just put out a tornado

warning. We better get going.

You better pick these up.

Here you go.

I swear, I spent more on film

than I got paid.

What is going on here?

Well, it turns out that the groom's

former girlfriend...

...was a waitress at the reception.

This was right after the bride

called her a cheap big-ass tramp.

Who's on the stretcher?

The waitress, after the bridesmaids

jumped up and down on her.

You think they'll want these?

I took everything.

I better get moving.

I'll meet you two in the cellar.

I'm ready.

You certainly are.

Now you're all set. Got it?

Where are you going?

Dixie Merlin's still sick.

I'm gonna bring her some potato soup.

I'll be right back.

(PHONE RINGS)

Pick it up. Novalee, pick it up.

Pick it up.

(PHONE RINGS)

MAN ON TV:
Those of you in Rogers

County should take action as well.

I got you.

NOVALEE:
Rosanna, help me.

AMERICUS:
Mommy, I'm scared.

ROSANNA:
I've got you, honey.

Hold on, I've got you.

MAN ON TV:

We interrupt for weather.

- Where's Grandma Sister?

- She's coming, honey.

My husband's painting a house

on Commerce Street.

He'll be all right.

Do you want to play cards?

I want to play with my bear.

He's scared of the storm.

I'm gonna go look for Sister.

Sister?

Shouldn't we shut the door?

Sister's still coming. Let's wait.

(TORNADO SIREN WAILS)

Oh, God.

Novalee, come back!

AMERICUS:
Where you going?

- Novalee, please!

(GRUNTS)

(SCREAMING)

Come here! Come here!

Americus, come here!

(SCREAMING)

Hold on, Novalee! I've got you!

Americus, stay back!

Kids, stay back!

Hang on!

Get back, baby.

Mommy!

(PEOPLE CHATTERING SOFTLY)

Look, Mommy.

LEXIE:
Why couldn't they

reopen Wal-Mart here?

NOVALEE:

Structural damage.

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